About the Nechako Watershed Roundtable
BackgroundThe Nechako Watershed — a magnificent river system in north-central BC — is facing significant challenges such as wildfire and drought, impacts of the mountain pine beetle epidemic and salvage logging, climate change, and the diversion of water out of the Nechako watershed. Effective stewardship of the Nechako Watershed today is critical to all future generations. In light of the challenges, there is a need to enhance awareness and collaboration to help ensure the long-term environmental health and wealth of the Nechako watershed, while addressing today’s needs for responsible resource development and resilient communities. Different organizations have worked, and to continue to work, to improve the health of the Nechako. Most agree that activities could be better coordinated, limited resources pooled more effectively, and decision-makers and the public given more opportunities to become more aware and engaged in the health of the watershed. Origins of the RoundtableA dialogue began in 2012 among different bodies within the watershed, which came together informally as the Nechako Watershed Alliance. The intent was to share information and knowledge, explore common interests and brainstorm on actions needed to advance watershed health. In the spring of 2015, participants decided to form a watershed roundtable that includes representatives of government (Provincial, Local and First Nations), community groups, academic and research communities and the general public. Guided by a core leadership committee, the Nechako Watershed Roundtable has drafted a Nechako Watershed Strategy (Full Report | Summary) and intends to undertake and advise on water stewardship activities in the Nechako River Basin. Roundtable ParticipantsParticipants in annual meetings of the Roundtable have included:
Funding SupportFunding to support the Nechako Watershed Roundtable operations and projects has been generously provided by the Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia, the Fraser Basin Council, the City of Prince George, the Village of Burns Lake, the District of Vanderhoof, the District of Fort St. James, the Village of Fraser Lake, the Fraser-Fort George Regional District Electoral Areas A and C, and the Bulkley-Nechako Regional District Electoral Areas B, C, D, E, F. This financial support has complemented and leveraged significant in-kind contributions from Core Committee members, partner organizations and Roundtable participants. Terms of Reference, Structure and Core CommitteeThe Nechako Watershed Roundtable is a collaborative initiative to protect and improve the health of the Nechako watershed for future generations. The NWR includes representation from BC First Nations, the Province of BC, local governments and other agencies and organizations having responsibilities and interests in the watershed. To learn more about the Nechako Watershed Roundtable, see the Terms of Reference document, which includes a mission, objectives, guiding principles and structure for the work of the Roundtable and its core committee. Contact UsThe Fraser Basin Council and UNBC serve in partnership as secretariat for the Roundtable.
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